After last weekend’s shock win for Australia over New Zealand, which saw them take ownership of the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2011, the two teams have been named for the return fixture this weekend in Auckland.
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has stuck with largely the same team that lost their first game for a year last weekend, making just three changes. Ma’a Nonu returns to the midfield for the injured Sonny Bill Williams, although that’s a change that would likely have been on the cards anyway.
Sam Whitelock comes in for Luke Romano in the engine room, while Victor Vito gets a go on the blindside flank in place of Jerome Kaino, who drops to the bench.
Michael Cheika, by contrast, has shuffled his deck after last weekend’s win, presumably with a view to giving some new faces a chance to stake their claim for the World Cup.
The giant Will Skelton returns to the starting line-up in place of Dean Mumm in the second row, while the Pocock/Hooper axis is split up, with Wycliff Palu starting at number eight in place of the former.
In the backline last weekend’s heroes, Nic White and Matt Toomua, start at nine and twelve respectively, while Quade Cooper is brought in between them at outside half. Henry Speight is named on the wing in place of Drew Mitchell.
Australia
15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 James Horwill, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Kane Douglas, 21 David Pocock, 22 Matt Giteau, 23 Kurtley Beale.
New Zealand
15 Ben Smith, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Victor Vito, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Jerome Kaino, 20 Sam Cane, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Colin Slade, 23 Malakai Fekitoa
Date: Saturday, August 15
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19:35 local (07:35 GMT, 17:35 AEST)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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Isn’t it the case that the Aussies have to at least draw to get their hands on the Bledisloe?
Yes.
I am sure if the all blacks win the return they will retain the cup.
Wow, the Aussies have no spare SH, and will have a full replacement tight 5 on the bench. Will be interesting!
Giteau is supposedly covering 9, 10 and 12
Rather surprised at the changes to the Aussie team but I think Cheika has earned some trust with the Wallabies’ recent performances.
However, the cynics amongst us might suggest that there is likely to be an almighty backlash from the ABs at Eden Park and that a somewhat weaker team has been picked in order to carry the can should they get thumped….
What do you base yr opinion on about Oz fielding ‘a somewhat weaker team’? They’ve still got the core of last week’s team & his starting WC team may not be set entirely in stone just yet.
It’s yet to be seen whether Oz are ‘weaker’, esp as they will be away nxt Sat.
Besides, having won the Championship, isn’t Cheika just doing what other Int’al teams, esp in the NH, are doing at present? I.e. giving a run out to (some) other contenders? And It’s not as is these guys (mostly) haven’t already featured.
Common sense for me. More so when compared to Lancaster who is putting out virtually a 2nd string. Or do you think he is also doing so ‘in order to carry the can should they get thumped….’?
Don, my last comment was quite obviously made tongue in cheek.
However, given that their victory last weekend – their first since 2011 against the ABs – was based around both dominance at the breakdown by the combo of Hooper and Pocock and a superb performance by the pack, changes to that pack is always going to be seen as resulting in a weaker team – especially as the names that have come in are not new but are players whose capabilities we already know.
Of the changes:
Palu – been around for a while. Blows a bit hot and cold in my opinion. But the ABs have his number and there’s no surprises for them there
Skelton – massive bloke, hasn’t yet lived up to his size and billing. Mumm bought some steel to the Wallaby pack. Skelton so far, hasn’t
White – game winning cameo last week but generally thought of as being inconsistent
Cooper – as we know, incredibly mercurial. Almost always finds it tough against the ABs
Speight- bagloads of potential but still pretty raw
I don’t think there is any doubt that this is a weaker team than last week’s. Even the Aussies think it is…
http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/what-the-hell-are-you-doing-cheika/
But it does give Cheika a chance to see if players can step up in the most difficult of circumstances – Eden Park with the ABs coming off a loss
PS – The England France game this weekend is of far less import and therefore it’s unsurprising that it will be two quite experimental teams
Likely nr WC starting line up, with the prob exception of V V & poss M-S.
Opined last time that the ABs would prob out last Oz, but didn’t quite work out that way. Their ‘D’, which otherwise was pretty good, let them down x2 & it proved their undoing.
Also, they must stop the turnovers, get numbers to the breakdown to win more pill & stop Oz @ source.
Their passing needs sharpening, as does DC’s goal kicking, their scrum needs tightening a notch & their negative decision making in going for orthodox pens when attacking scums could be better options, needs revision.
Individually, guys like the yellowed A. Smith & Savea must keep their thinking & discipline going. In the latter’s case, he must protect the ball under his outside arm, freeing his inside arm in order to fend when going for a try!
Doubt whether Hansen will allow another loss, particularly in WC yr, particularly @ home & particularly @ Eden Pk where NZ haven’t lost since to Oz since 1986.
So, expect a dominant performance this time… I hope.